Chapter 12
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my belly. Then, I smelled blood. I had a bad feeling. So I crawled to the window with all my might.
The light downstairs was on, so I grabbed the clothesline pole and struck the window downstairs while calling out for help.
The neighbor downstairs knew me well. Seeing me pasty and bleeding, she reassured me, all anxious, “Honey, don’t worry. I’ll call 911. They’ll open the door for you.”
About ten minutes later, the police and the ambulance came. The door was opened.
I borrowed my neighbor’s phone to call Antonio..
I had no money. He had just received a bonus of 18,000 dollars.
The line was connected before long.
I said anxiously, “Antonio, come back. I’m bleeding. The paramedics say the fetus is in a critical condition.”
Emma snorted at the other end of the line.
“Grace, save it. You’re just lying to make Antonio come back to you.”
I was bleeding profusely. I couldn’t help shouting, “Bitch, leave my husband alone!”
Without saying a word, Emma put down the phone but didn’t hang up.
I could hear music from a bar and the sound of glasses clinking. I kept
Chapter 12
calling Antonio’s name, but he couldn’t hear me.
Then, I heard him and Emma laughing. I finally hung up.
Maybe I was wrong to have expectations of him. He’d rather trade his wife’s and child’s happiness and lives for Emma’s happiness.
Were he and Emma just friends?
Emotionally overwhelmed, I sobbed and called my dad.
He said he’d have a friend of his in this city send me money at once, and that I’d have new identification within one day.
Reassured, I finally got into the ambulance.
The operation was performed under general anesthesia, but I still could feel the pain, physically and mentally.
Antonio used to want this baby. He had even picked a name for it.
He knew how difficult and dangerous this childbirth was for me. But when it came to Emma, nothing else mattered to him.
I had thought, when our baby was born, Antonio would know how much I loved him. Surrounded by me and the baby, he’d feel the familial affection; he’d forget Emma and love me and the baby more.
Reality told me it was all in my head.
When I came to after the operation, Antonio was sitting by the hospital bed. Emma–was lying at the other end of the bed. I felt a chill at my waist. I looked and found Emma had put her cold foot against my waist.
I pushed her feet away.
Emma opened her eyes and looked at me. Under the quilt, she kicked me
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with her other foot. Then, she pretended to fall off the bed.
Antonio hastened to catch her.
Emma pretended to just wake up.
She complained,
“Who kicked me? It hurts.”
Holding Emma, Antonio glared at me.
“Grace, my friends never mean anything to you, do they?
“Emma is unwell. But still, when she learned you were in hospital, she insisted on coming to keep you company. She was cold, so I asked her to lie down and get warm.”
His words enraged me.
I had a miscarriage. Instead of showing any concern for me, Antonio wanted me to warm Emma with my body?
I couldn’t help yelling.
“Antonio, get out! I want a divorce!”
Emma stood before Antonio and lectured me loudly.
“Grace, I don’t blame you for kicking me off the bed. But show some respect for Antonio, or I won’t be so nice.
“You’re just a powerless bitch. You totally relied on Antonio after marrying him. The baby is gone. But he didn’t blame you and took care of you all night. What did you do?”
Then, Emma’s eyes rolled cunningly. She looked at Antonio and
continued, “And who is the man who paid your medical bill? Did you cheat on Antonio? Is that why you didn’t want his baby?”
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I struggled to sit up and threw the pillow at Emma furiously.
Holding Emma in his arms, Antonio tossed the pillow away and looked at me in disappointment.
“Grace, are you mad because it’s true?
“You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved. Why did you betray me?” Hearing Antonio’s words, the two pregnant women in the ward and their husbands looked at me disdainfully.
After a triumphant glance at me, Emma grabbed Antonio’s arm.
“Let’s get out of here. I’ll buy you breakfast. Thank you for catching me just now. Your wife can stay here and think about what she did.”
Antonio sighed and patted Emma on her back.
“You’re a good friend. You care more about me than my wife does.”
